One World, One Environment

8PBr (or those of them who hadn't disappeared off on holiday already anyway!) had a great end to their Environmental Issues unit this morning with a videoconference on "sustainability".

We linked up via Global-Leap in London with a lady called Mary Gower at the Centre for Alternative Technology in southern Snowdonia, and talked about resources, conflict, water, deforestation, Fairtrade, carbon footprinting, eco-footprinting and lots more. I particularly liked Mary's definition of sustainability - "treating the planet as though we intend to stay" - rather simpler than some of the others I've seen, but conveys the concept quite clearly!

The website that Mary mentioned where you can calculate your eco-footprint is here http://www.myfootprint.org/. There are lots of other eco-footprint and carbon footprint calculators online as well - this one from the WWF is quite good http://footprint.wwf.org.uk/ . I like to think that I am quite good in terms of recycling, switching off lights and appliances, using energy-saving lightbulbs, etc. BUT my eco-footprint according to the first quiz is 1.9 planets, and 2.7 planets according to the WWF one... both smaller than the UK average - but bigger than they should be!! The main reasons, I think, are driving to work, living by myself and not being vegetarian...

As for the Centre for Alternative Technology... I haven't managed to get there yet, but am quite keen to go and check it out (I've been told there's a fantastic café and bookshop there!!)... Have a look at their website by clicking on the banner below...

Work out your footprint and leave a comment to let us know what it was and how you are going to reduce it (if you need to!)... And if you've been to the C.A.T., tell us all about it!

Walkers' Carbon Footprint!

Next time you buy a packet of Walkers' crisps, take a good look at the packet... According to the article on Newsnight that I've just been watching, you'll not only be able to see what's in your crisps (100% British potatoes, apparently), and check your calorie/fat/salt/etc/ consumption, but you'll also now be able to see how your packet of crisps is affecting the environment.

Walkers are the first big company to sign up to a new Carbon Footprint labelling scheme, where products carry labels stating the carbon emissions. Walkers trialled this scheme earlier in the year, but now every product will carry the carbon footprint label.

Walkers have a special website which tells you more about the scheme, and more about how the process of crisp-making affects the environment...

Do you think this sounds like a good idea? Do you care how much carbon dioxide your crisps have produced? Should all manufacturers be required to put this kind of labelling on their products?